Saturday, December 7, 2013

Hats for the School Christmas Musical!

 Sewing is always occurring, but projects are in various stages. Is that normal? Well, it seems to be for me!
 

These sweet hats were a project for the K, first, and second graders at my school. They are part of a penguin costume. Can you believe that 70 hats were made in one week?

Caught solid color fleece on a one day sale, great deal at $2.49 a yard! 
The "accent" prints were $6 bucks. After I figured out the first 2 hat measurements, there was two days of cutting the pieces.
These would be a quick and easy gift! I worked with 3 or 4 you tube videos, and then made my hats using these guides:

Main body of hat was cut 11 inches by 24 inches, the 24 inches are the stretch.  I was able to make 6 hats from one yard. 

Accent/brim piece is 6 inches by 24, again the long side being the stretchy side.

 

I took them to my Monday night quilting class, and did a quick demo for the class. Then my friend Debbie helped to sew the pieces into "tubes", both the body and the accent/brim parts...
 
 (we left about 2 1/2 inch opening on one end for the fringe, 
I liked that better so there wasn't a stiff piece of the pom pom)

and Kathy cut the threads and stacked the pieces so I could get it all back home. "I get by with a little help from my friends ~" sing along...
 It was fun to put the colors together! The mix I was going for was bold contrasts...made me think of Dr. Seuss....



  Here is the assembly. Fold the 6 inch accent in half, with the seam on the inside. Pin it to the wrong side -seam side- of the body part. Sew around to attach.

  This shows the accent flipped up, but not turned to the right side yet.

  This shows the accent/brim turned up, and now the seam you just made is hidden! I gave them a little steam at this point, half heat, the fleece will melt on cotton setting!

The fringe is cut at 2 to 3 inches, a little wider than 1/4 inch. Nothing like quilting, fleece is so forgiving!

I didn't take a picture from this point, but you need to take a big gathering stitch -1 inch stitches- just below the cut fringe. If you use a big needle and double thread, you can draw it up and tie it tight. 

The last step is to take 2 pieces of the front fringe, cross them over and then tie them in the back, bundling the fringe into the pom pom. This is where you might be glad you you cut the fringe more toward the 3 inches, cuz' those shorter fringe pieces barely reach around ~


Hey, let me know if you try these. I hope it is easy enough to understand!


These are some of my kiddos with their hat of choice. 
I usually take their picture and frame it for a Christmas gift to their folks. Some of the pictures didn't show the pom pom top, so this is just a few of the photos ~



Thank you to my praying friends. Larry came through the surgery well, and is on the mend. His Papa is coming for Christmas! We are hoping he feels great by then ~


I'll leave you with a picture and a link of what we had around here this past week, mm-mm, Sour Cream Cranberry Coffee Cake ~






"Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all."
 II Thessalonians 3 : 16

16 comments:

  1. So glad to hear Larry is on the mend! Those hats (and the children wearing them) are adorable!

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  2. WOW...that's a lot of hats! Good job...and cute, too! So happy to hear that Larry is doing well.

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  3. What fun! Those are some cute kids.
    So glad to hear that Larry is improving!

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  4. Hats are adorable! Good news about Larry. Coffee cake looks amazing! I made a couple of hats this week too. Not 70 like you did!!!

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  5. So good to hear Larry's surgery was a success, now onto the the recovery and mending......I'll keep him in my prayers.
    You amaze me with all your energy .....must be your love of teaching and devotion to these children.
    I hope their parents appreciate how much TLC their children get in your loving hands.

    Happy Sewing

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  6. Dr. Suess colors--perfect! I bet those pictures become family treasures. Good to hear about Larry, he and you are in my prayers.

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  7. These hats are great fun. Love the vibrant colours. 70 hats - WOW!
    Good to hear Larry's news, too.

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  8. What adorable hats!! I'll bet the kiddies love them - the pictures of the little ones wearing their wonderfully colored hats are adorable. I know lyou have to be a very favorite teacher in the lives of your students. Big job done with love. Glad your husband is getting along well. Caro

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  9. Amazing accomplishment... and adorable hats! I might have to try this idea...so cute!
    And that cake is making my mouth water!

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  10. Oh my goodness how adorable those little hats are. I love seeing the pictures of the children wearing them and their adorable smiling faces! So happy Larry did well during surgery. I will keep both of you in my prayers Gwen. I hope you enjoy your Christmas when your FIL comes to visit and that your hubby will be up for it. I will have to check out the recipe. Looks and sounds yummy! I love the polka dot background of your blog. That's new isn't it? Sew cute and so you!

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  11. Love the cheerful colors you're using!

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  12. Such cute, colorful hats The kids will look very festive. Hugs

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  13. These hats are adorable.
    70 hats were made in one week??
    You and your friends are amazing.

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  14. So glad Larry is on the mend. Love all the hats....must be 70 very happy children to have such great teachers who work so hard for them. Mmmmm cranberry coffee cake sounds yummy! Hope you have a Merry Christmas.

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